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Football News: Community Shield Preview - Arsenal v Chelsea

This year's curtain-raiser for the new Premier League season in England stars two of the biggest giants in the English game, last season's champions Chelsea, and the FA Cup holders, Arsenal. Arsene Wenger will be attempting to get his first ever win against Jose Mourinho, with extra motivation being given by Mourinho's recent press jibes about him buying the title.

The two London clubs have probably got the most settled squads ahead of next season's title race, so it will be a chance to see just how much of a difference the addition of Petr Cech has made to the Arsenal team. The arrival of Cech from Chelsea is seen by many as the best signing of the summer, with the Gooners struggling for many years to find a top class goalkeeper.

While Chelsea's aims for the season ahead are simply to maintain their place at the top of the table, it is Arsenal that were most in need of changes, to raise themselves from 3rd. But first they have a chance to test themselves against each other, in what is the last preseason friendly before the real battle begins next weekend.

 

Arsenal are, historically, more successful in the Community Shield than their opponents, and this time around it has a lot more meaning to them than it does to the West London side. That should give them a slight edge, but the question remains as to whether that will be enough of an advantage to put them on a level footing with Mourinho's team. If Eden Hazard is in good form, then it is difficult to see how the Arsenal defence will be able to cope with him, even with Cech behind them.

If you are the opposing manager, you will be hoping that this season might be one too far for John Terry, who was thought to be finished a couple of years ago, but then spent last season proving everyone wrong. Any sign of those ageing legs struggling will be sure to lead to him being targeted this season. Clearly Jose is planning for a future without him, as the attempt to sign John Stones from Everton has shown.

 

With Kurt Zouma already waiting in the wings, looking to take his chance to become a long term member of the Pensioners' defence, Terry will need to perform like he did all of last season to hold on to his place. Right now it is probably Gary Cahill who is most in fear of his place, with some inconsistent performances last season. With the ever dependable Cesar Azpilicueta alongside them and the protection they get from Nemanja Matic, tomorrow should be a difficult day for the Arsenal forwards.

With Jose having the hoodoo over Wenger, it is difficult to see anything other than a Chelsea win, unless they fail to take it seriously. As much as Cech improves Arsenal, he is not enough to close the gap between the two sides on his own. Though he could well be the difference between 3rd and 2nd at the end of the year, Chelsea are still the strongest side in England.

Written by Tris Burke August 01 2015 20:38:36